1. INTROUCTION

There are currently 36 known and probable
galaxy members of the Local Group within a zero-velocity surface of 1.2 Mpc.
Except for the three spiral galaxies M31, Milky Way, and M33, the
irregular Large Magellanic Cloud, and the small elliptical
galaxy M32
all other galaxies in the Local Group are dwarf galaxies with
MV > - 18 mag.
In this review I will concentrate on the properties of the interstellar
medium (ISM) of the Magellanic
Clouds and the Local Group dwarf galaxies, moving from gas-rich to gas-poor
objects. Recent results from telescopes, instruments, and surveys such as
NANTEN, ATCA, HIPASS, JCMT,
ISO, ROSAT, FUSE,
ORFEUS, STIS, Keck, and the VLT are
significantly advancing
our knowledge of the ISM in nearby dwarfs and provide an unprecedented,
multi-wavelength view of its different phases.
For a detailed review of the properties of all Local Group galaxies see
[73].